Humor is infectious. It lightens burdens, inspires hope, connects us to others, increases our insight, keeps us grounded, focused, alert, and happy.
Laughter is a universal language that stimulates both sides of the brain. It allows us to get messages quicker and remember them longer. We all learn more when we are having fun. Writing this blog is a creative exploration in sharing thoughts that make me laugh, smile, or think. Thinking is the source of laughter. Welcome and have a nice day!

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Much Ado About Metaphors

Laughter is what's enjoyable, until you think about the subject. Humor is the effective use of that certain something we find in metaphors, except utilized with the specific purpose of making someone laugh or otherwise feel good. Typically, comics are drawn for the same reasons. There's something about jokes and comics that cause us to smile when we least expect it.

Sometimes we enjoy comics or jokes just because we enjoy the feelings associated with that moment when we "get it". Other times, we enjoy the initial release of pent up energy we carry around with us when we encounter something ironic or blatantly defiant. There's an instant reaction when we see something funny - we laugh.

Sure, later, we think about why we laugh, but that's always after the fact. Whatever attracts people to humor and comics, it is most certainly associated with the same experiences inherent in evolution and progress: in taking steps toward that which might make us stumble, looking around, catching our balance, and then, laughing about the whole thing afterwards.

When I think of metaphors, I get nothing. No true image comes to mind. Then, as if out of nowhere, something signals my brain, evoking that which had not previously existed or perhaps been considered. The generation of the words "like" and "as" begin whirling around my head like little cartoon bubbles and then suddenly, I've got it! I've served myself another pleasant helping of how things "fit together".

Comedy, humor, comics, and other artistic creations, intended to make someone feel good, have this in common... a "something from nothing" metaphoric experience from which we gain meaning.

In short, humor and comics tell us more about metaphor and enjoyment. Most of us enjoy something, be that humor, comics, research, sharing, exploring, or otherwise creating something we associate with an aspect of our being or that which we've encountered or "got" about the many meanings we ascribe to this thing we call "life".

"My Bad" (Disclaimer)

A number of the images I post are not my original artwork. Much is sent to me by friends, some I find on Facebook or floating around the Internet. Whenever possible, I site the original artist. If I cannot find the original artist, and YOU are the original artist or you know the original artist, please contact me so that I can site the work accordingly. I apologize in advance for any inconvenience. Please know, if your original artwork was used, it was used for good!